Stewart-Haas Racing – Frontstretchhttps://frontstretch.com
Best seat at the track, best view on the web!Fri, 09 Dec 2016 21:38:21 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1Eyes on XFINITY: Get Ready to Race with Stewart-Haashttps://frontstretch.com/2016/07/27/eyes-on-xfinity-get-ready-to-race-with-stewart-haas/
https://frontstretch.com/2016/07/27/eyes-on-xfinity-get-ready-to-race-with-stewart-haas/#commentsThu, 28 Jul 2016 02:30:02 +0000https://frontstretch.com/?p=121539Stewart-Haas Racing has experienced a tremendous amount of growth in its relatively short existence. In 2017, the organization will expand once again, this time to the XFINITY Series. News broke on Monday that the team would field a single-car entry in NASCAR’s second-tier division next season with driver and sponsorship details announced later this year. …

]]>Stewart-Haas Racing has experienced a tremendous amount of growth in its relatively short existence. In 2017, the organization will expand once again, this time to the XFINITY Series. News broke on Monday that the team would field a single-car entry in NASCAR’s second-tier division next season with driver and sponsorship details announced later this year.

The formation of an NXS team adds another project to what will be a busy offseason for Tony Stewart and Gene Haas. SHR is already planning a manufacturer switch to Ford and will have all-new equipment next year. Just like the alliance with Ford, the team clearly enters the XFINITY Series with an eye on the future. Both Stewart and Greg Zipadelli, SHR’s Vice President of competition, expressed the desire to have a program for developing drivers and other team members, and SHR’s XFINITY team should do just that.

Moreover, the creation of this team is another indication that there is a renewed interest in NASCAR for young drivers. The youth movement in the sport has not reached the levels that it did 20 or 15 years ago, during the height of the search for the next Jeff Gordon, but pathways to the Sprint Cup Series are opening after a long period of little driver turnover. Most of the major organizations, along with their satellites, are engaging in an arms race to scoop up as many young prospects as possible. In Stewart-Haas’ case, the team has benefited from a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports and its ties to other Chevrolet teams. However, that relationship ends in 2017. It therefore makes sense for SHR to take control of its own developmental program, even if it means a lot more work for the team.

Is Cole Custer making the switch to Ford with Stewart-Haas? (Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

In the meantime, the biggest question is which driver (or drivers) will race SHR’s XFINITY car next year. Cole Custer appears to be the obvious choice. Gene Haas fielded a part-time team in the Camping World Truck Series for Custer in 2014. Custer’s father, Joe, is also SHR’s Executive Vice President. However, JR Motorsports has really taken over Custer’s development since 2015. he is currently running his first full-time Truck Series season, and has also made three NXS appearances for JRM this year. Once Stewart-Haas and JR Motorsports go their separate ways at the end of this year, what happens to Custer? There has not been any clear indication, at this point, as to which team he would go to. In fact, with only 30 Truck Series races under his belt, Custer may not even be ready to make the jump to the XFINITY Series in the first place.

The driver decision will ultimately be a reflection of what SHR hopes to accomplish in the first year. If Stewart and Haas want consistency within the team and a chance to race for the championship, they will pick one driver for the full season. In that case, Custer would probably be at the top of their list. Otherwise, SHR could try to lure away a different driver from their current team. Stewart has an affinity for drivers who share his dirt-racing background. Could the team make a play for someone like Christopher Bell or Rico Abreu?

It is also possible that the team could forgo its championship hopes and split the car among several drivers. Custer could still be part of that plan, but sponsorship may depend on having a Cup driver run some of the races. Kevin Harvick has run several NXS races with JR Motorsports each year since joining Stewart-Haas. He could make some appearances in the new SHR XFINITY car if he (and the sponsors) is interested. Perhaps the Haas Formula 1 drivers Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez could give NASCAR a try, probably in one of the road course events.

Either way, having another well-funded car in the XFINITY Series will be a good thing for NASCAR’s second-tier division. A new team means new job opportunities and the potential to introduce a new sponsor into the sport. SHR is also likely to contend for wins and would probably be a shoe-in for a Chase spot if the team decides to use one driver. The only real downside would be if a Sprint Cup driver wound up running most of the races. That is not meant as a knock against Harvick, Kurt Busch, Danica Patrick or Clint Bowyer. Any Cup driver paired up with a Cup organization is going to exacerbate the XFINITY Series’ competition problem.

At this point, Stewart and the rest of his team appear to be committed to developing new talent, including drivers. Using a Sprint Cup driver for half or more of the races would only hurt the organization’s potential to prepare for the future of the Cup team. So it is more likely than not that SHR will put the focus of its XFINITY program on prospects.

The 2017 season will be the greatest test yet of how well Stewart-Haas stacks up against NASCAR’s old order of long-time owners like Hendrick, Gibbs, Childress, Penske and Roush. SHR has already had a lot of success thus far, winning two of the last five Sprint Cups. Do not be surprised if the team adds an XFINITY title someday.

]]>https://frontstretch.com/2016/07/27/eyes-on-xfinity-get-ready-to-race-with-stewart-haas/feed/1NASCAR Mailbox: Why Should Stewart-Haas Racing Have an XFINITY Series Team?https://frontstretch.com/2016/07/27/nascar-mailbox-why-should-stewart-haas-racing-have-an-xfinity-series-team/
https://frontstretch.com/2016/07/27/nascar-mailbox-why-should-stewart-haas-racing-have-an-xfinity-series-team/#commentsWed, 27 Jul 2016 09:19:39 +0000https://frontstretch.com/?p=121477The XFINITY Series is meant to help prepare young drivers for NASCAR’s premier division, the Sprint Cup Series. However, with the dominance of Sprint Cup teams and drivers in the series, it has been difficult for young drivers to make a name for themselves in the division. But that’s when Stewart-Haas Racing will come in. The …

]]>The XFINITY Series is meant to help prepare young drivers for NASCAR’s premier division, the Sprint Cup Series. However, with the dominance of Sprint Cup teams and drivers in the series, it has been difficult for young drivers to make a name for themselves in the division. But that’s when Stewart-Haas Racing will come in.

The powerhouse Sprint Cup team is moving to the XFINITY Series in 2017, with an unknown driver and sponsor(s). Joining the likes of Roush Fenway Racing and Team Penske, the move gives Ford yet another team in the sport’s second-tier series as it looks to catch up to Toyota.

As the powerhouse organizations that compete in the series continue to have success in that division, they are continuing to look for ways to win in the Cup Series.

Speaking of those Cup Series powerhouses, it’s almost time for the Chase. With just six races left before the cutoff, pressure is on for winless drivers to get into Victory Lane. For those who have never won a Sprint Cup race and sit just outside of the top 16, now is the perfect time to capitalize on momentum and earn a triumph.

Q: SHR announced it’s going to start an XFINITY Series team. Why are they doing it now? – Jamie R., Charlotte

A: Now is a great time for this team to start a development program. Frankly, why not do it now? If SHR is going to be a household name in NASCAR for years to come, it certainly needs to have a future with younger drivers.

While Cole Custer, the son of SHR executive vice president Joe Custer, has raced for JR Motorsports in the XFINITY Series three times this year, it is uncertain if he will return to the team next year. However, one has to think that Custer does have the upper hand with this move given he’s been backed only by Haas Automation and as of recently, OneMain Financial, which is leaving the sport at season’s end.

But starting an XFINITY Series program within SHR’s shop is a wise move. As the team swaps over to Ford after working with Chevrolet, it will be a nice way to welcome in the new manufacturer. Having the XFINITY Series program will essentially help create a partnership with the other two major Ford teams, and even smaller ones such as Richard Petty Motorsports, which works with Biagi-DenBeste Racing in the series.

The move does come at an interesting time, though, mainly because team co-owner Tony Stewart had just been speaking about the lack of a development driver within the team. Obviously, Custer is considered to be under the SHR banner, but he is no where near ready for Sprint Cup competition given he’s 18 years old and had a mere 30 Truck Series starts under his belt.

However, the opportunity to expand SHR is one that is doable because of the swap to Ford. Without the switch to the blue oval, let’s face it, the team might have never moved to the XFINITY Series. But now, it can do so in an efficient way, especially with the announcement coming in July, giving the team plenty of time to prepare for 2017 and sign a driver/sponsor combination to lead its effort.

Maybe, just maybe, we’ll even see Stewart races in the XFINITY Series at some point in the future for SHR.

Q: The Chase is rapidly approaching. Who can make it into the Chase that isn’t in the top 16 already? – James K., Boston

A: It is going to be really close come the checkered flag at Richmond in a few weeks. Frankly, things are bound to shake up with how everything is falling into place as of late.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. missing multiple races is obviously the biggest plot twist we could have expected, but another is the emergence of the young drivers. Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson are each inside of the Chase Grid after Indianapolis. Think about that for a minute: three of NASCAR’s rising stars have a shot to win the title in 2016.

As debated numerous times in the past on this site, who is the future figurehead of NASCAR now that both Jeff Gordon and Stewart are hanging up their helmets? Could it all start by making the Chase for one of these drivers?

Currently, Elliott is in a very stable position, sitting well inside of the Chase will 11 top 10s, even while being in a slump since Sonoma. Dillon is having a stellar year, setting career-highs in top 5s (three) and top 10s (nine) through only 20 races. As for Larson, he is on the edge right now, with four top 5s and six top 10s, hanging onto a Chase position by the fringes.

While Elliott and Dillon should feel comfortable with their Chase chances, Larson on the other hand should be feeling rather uneasy. If it weren’t for Earnhardt being out, he would be on the outside looking in. The No. 42 team has been quite inconsistent in 2016, going from running in the top 5 one week to barely in the top 20 the next.

Remember, if Earnhardt comes back before the Chase, he will likely be granted a Chase waiver, especially since everyone who is hurt has been granted one in the past. If he can win a race before the Chase begins, he will likely be in the playoffs, kicking one driver out of the Chase grid. But of course, that is only if he can win one.

Let’s not forget, Watkins Glen is coming up too. AJ Allmendinger certainly has that event circled on his calendar. The 2014 winner of the Upstate New York road course contest is looking to make the Chase once again, and must have a win in order to do so with an average finish of 19.6 this year. But he cannot have any issues like last season, forcing him to finish a disappointing 24th after winning the pole and leading 21 laps.

Rookie Ryan Blaney could also work his way into the Chase. He is only 22 points behind Larson and was in the Chase grid until his wreck at Indianapolis. The rookie has six top 10s this year and has been consistently competing for top-15 finishes on a weekly basis.

There are a few drivers who have potential to sneak into the Chase grid, including the three Roush drivers. However, it will certainly take a triumph to bring one of these drivers into NASCAR’s version of the playoffs, possibly solidifying the future with their race team.

]]>https://frontstretch.com/2016/07/27/nascar-mailbox-why-should-stewart-haas-racing-have-an-xfinity-series-team/feed/2Stewart-Haas Racing Adds XFINITY Series Entry for 2017https://frontstretch.com/2016/07/25/stewart-haas-racing-adds-xfinity-series-entry-for-2017/
Tue, 26 Jul 2016 00:53:06 +0000https://frontstretch.com/?p=121433On Saturday, NASCAR owner/driver Tony Stewart mentioned how his organization does not have an XFINITY Series team. Fast forward to Monday and that statement is no longer accurate. Stewart-Haas Racing will field a single-car, full-time XFINITY Series effort starting next season. Competing out of the team’s headquarters in Kannapolis, North Carolina, it will be in …

]]>On Saturday, NASCAR owner/driver Tony Stewart mentioned how his organization does not have an XFINITY Series team. Fast forward to Monday and that statement is no longer accurate.

Stewart-Haas Racing will field a single-car, full-time XFINITY Series effort starting next season. Competing out of the team’s headquarters in Kannapolis, North Carolina, it will be in the same shop as its Sprint Cup Series program.

“In order to maintain the competitiveness that has earned SHR two championships since our debut in 2009, we needed an outlet to develop drivers and team personnel for the Sprint Cup Series,” Greg Zipadelli, Stewart-Haas Racing’s vice president of competition, said in a team release on Monday. “People make the difference between winning and losing. An XFINITY Series team gives us added depth that will allow us to promote from within whenever necessary.”

The organization will announce a driver/sponsor package prior to the conclusion of the 2016 season. The team is moving from Chevrolet to Ford in 2017, giving the blue oval another full-time team to join Roush Fenway Racing and Team Penske.

“An XFINITY Series team has always been something we would consider when the time was right, and that time is now,” Stewart said. “Staying successful in this sport means staying ahead of the curve, and having an XFINITY Series team provides an in-house driver development program and a new channel for personnel to make a positive impact with our race team.”

Stewart-Haas Racing has been competing in the Sprint Cup Series since 2009, when Stewart purchased an interest in Gene Haas’ Haas CNC Racing.

SHR Executive Vice President Joe Custer, who also serves as the chief operating officer of Haas F1 Team, has been leading the development efforts of his son, Cole Custer. The younger Custer is competing full-time in the Camping World Truck Series for JR Motorsports with Haas Automation featured on his No. 00 truck. This year, the team moved him to the XFINITY Series part-time, competing in three races thus far with a best finish of fourth at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

It is unknown if Custer will continue to compete for JR Motorsports or if he will be the driver piloting SHR’s XFINITY Series effort.

SHR has won 33 races since its inception in 2009. The team has two titles, one with Stewart in 2011 and the other with Kevin Harvick in 2014.

“This is a natural progression of SHR’s growth and one that allows us to be more self-sufficient,” Haas said. “If you look at all the teams that are successful in Sprint Cup, they have a direct connection to the XFINITY Series where drivers, engineers, mechanics and pit crew members are developed. We’re an established team with a strong infrastructure that is ready for this endeavor.”

]]>NASCAR Mailbox: Is the Old Tony Stewart Back?https://frontstretch.com/2016/06/14/nascar-mailbox-is-tony-stewart-back-and-how-will-shr-do-without-him-behind-the-wheel-in-2017/
Tue, 14 Jun 2016 23:52:58 +0000https://frontstretch.com/?p=118882After an offseason injury, 2016 started out as the opposite of what Tony Stewart planned. His retirement tour didn’t begin until Richmond in late April, taking away from the hype of the three-time Sprint Cup champion’s final season. However, since Stewart came back to the No. 14 car, the swagger is still there. No, we aren’t talking …

]]>After an offseason injury, 2016 started out as the opposite of what Tony Stewart planned. His retirement tour didn’t begin until Richmond in late April, taking away from the hype of the three-time Sprint Cup champion’s final season. However, since Stewart came back to the No. 14 car, the swagger is still there. No, we aren’t talking about how he was sponsored by Old Spice a few years ago, either.

The intimidation factor Stewart presents is one that is rare in the NASCAR realm, essentially irreplaceable. His large build, combined with either a smirk or an angry look on his face has never gone away, nor will it … even after he rides into the sunset as a driver and transitions to a role solely as a team owner.

With the future of Stewart-Haas Racing, an operation Stewart joined after Haas CNC Racing’s seventh year of existence, now secure, he can relax and focus on competing for wins. It’s nothing new for him, but there has been a readjustment period, given he hasn’t won a race since Dover in June 2013.

Q: Will Tony Stewart be able to make the Chase? – John L., Miami

A: Michigan’s race was certainly a step in the right direction for Stewart. For the majority of the 400-mile contest on Sunday, the No. 14 car was competing in the top 5, a welcome sight for Stewart fans who are now shocked when he does so.

Stewart has struggled to be competitive as of late, but had a strong run last weekend in Michigan. (Photo: John Harrelson / NKP)

Stewart didn’t drop outside of the top 5 until the latter stages of the race, finishing seventh, which is his best result since returning from his injury. A strong run is exactly what this No. 14 team needs, given he finished 24th or worse in three straight events, including a wreck at Pocono Raceway with teammate Danica Patrick.

The Stewart camp is determined to make it into the top 30 in points, which is a realistic goal considering how well he is running when staying out of trouble. Following Michigan, he sits 35th in the standings, 45 points behind 30th place Brian Scott with 11 races before the Chase cutoff. There is little doubt that Stewart will have trouble making it into the top 30. However, the question is, can he win?

The No. 14 car showed strength with the even lower downforce package at Michigan, a type of handling Stewart thrives on. Running well at the intermediate track of Kansas, finishing 12th in his second full race back from injury, he is putting himself in position to be just fine heading into the second part of the year.

However, a win will be difficult for Stewart.

While the season has been dominated by the Joe Gibbs Racing cars, the four-car stable struggled the past two weeks at Pocono and Michigan. Obviously, the team’s struggles won’t last long, but it is indeed a sign that the rest of the field is catching up.

Stewart traditionally heats up in the summer months, capitalizing on the hot, slick racetracks. Sonoma and Daytona are likely his best chances to get back into Victory Lane, given he has two victories at the road course and four wins in the July race at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. Additionally, he has five wins at Watkins Glen, but none since 2009.

If Stewart can put himself in the right position, he will surely be able to drive into Victory Lane. A win would create a world full of emotions for a man that sometimes appears as if he has none.

Q: Clint Bowyer is struggling this year, but is slowly starting to get better. How will Stewart-Haas Racing do with him instead of Tony Stewart behind the wheel? – Lisa R., St. Louis

A: Let’s just start this off by comparing Clint Bowyer to his teammate, Michael Annett. Bowyer has a pair of top 10s, along with six top 20s. Meanwhile, Annett’s best finish this year is 27th in the season-opener at Daytona.

It might not be fair to compare the drivers given Bowyer is much more experienced and, frankly, more talented, than Annett. However, they are in the same equipment, with the No. 15 team beginning to run at — or even better than — the level Justin Allgaier ran throughout the 2015 campaign.

Bowyer is making the most out of his limited time with HScott Motorsports. Knowing he has a job lined up for next season, replacing Stewart at a championship-winning team is something he can take pride in. However, he is focused on the present, and frustrations might be at an all-time high.

Well, then again, it can’t get more frustrating than losing your job out of nowhere when you had a multi-year deal signed. But it’s OK, because Bowyer will be with a top-tier organization next year, rather than racing in the middle of the pack with Michael Waltrip Racing, his home from 2012 until the conclusion of last season.

Bowyer hasn’t been contending at a level that has come to be expected of him, but that could all change when he moves to SHR next year. (Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Bowyer will be back on his A-game next year, but there might be a period of readjusting to top-tier equipment. SHR is a rather odd case, with two of its drivers — Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch — been competing for wins, while the other two competitors — Stewart and Patrick — have struggled to run consistently in the top 20. If Stewart can continue the path he’s on now, it could set Bowyer up with plenty of momentum and confidence heading into next year.

The key for Bowyer will essentially be his ability to run consistently in the top 10. In his first two years with MWR, he was able to have back-to-back seasons with 10 top five, along with a career-high 23 top 10s in 2012. That capability does not just simply disappear.

Bowyer should be fine once he gets together with the No. 14 team — or whatever number it might be if the team opts to re-brand it.

With Stewart’s leadership from afar, he will be able to step back and be more of a leader than he already is. He will be able to focus on helping all four drivers, instead of worrying about his own efforts, along with the rest of the team.

Remember, 2017 is going to be a year of many unknowns for SHR. The move to Ford is still one that is shocking, and only time will tell how well the organization will adjust to competing with the blue oval.

Have a question? Email me at Joseph.Wolkin@Gmail.com and make sure to check back next week when we’ll answer your questions on all things NASCAR.

]]>Kurt Busch Relishes First Triumph of 2016 at Pocono Racewayhttps://frontstretch.com/2016/06/06/kurt-busch-relishes-first-triumph-of-2016-at-pocono-raceway/
Mon, 06 Jun 2016 21:10:45 +0000https://frontstretch.com/?p=118268Kurt Busch entered Pocono Raceway determined to win at the Tricky Triangle for the first time since 2007. Things are a lot different for the 2004 Cup Series champion since that August day. Busch is no longer driving the Blue Deuce. Instead, he’s walking around with his head held high, showcasing the gradient black and red colors …

]]>Kurt Busch entered Pocono Raceway determined to win at the Tricky Triangle for the first time since 2007.

Things are a lot different for the 2004 Cup Series champion since that August day. Busch is no longer driving the Blue Deuce. Instead, he’s walking around with his head held high, showcasing the gradient black and red colors of his No. 41 Chevrolet.

Rather than dominating the day like Busch did in 2007, leading 175 of 200 laps, he was strategic in his approach to Victory Lane. He showed patience, like he has throughout 2016, not getting frustrated on the radio or overdriving his racecar.

Saving just enough fuel to the end of the Axalta ‘We Paint Winners’ 400, Busch piloting his car into the winner’s circle for the first time at a track known for being different, just like Busch himself.

Leading 32 laps en route to his triumph, Busch is locked into the Chase for the Sprint Cup, joining Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick on the Chase Grid 14 races into the season. With a secure job and sponsorship for the foreseeable future, he breathed easily heading into his post-race press conference, speaking to the media as the victor for the first time since winning at Michigan, 35 races ago.

But unlike the rest of the season, Busch had a new face on top of the pit box at Pocono.

Crew chief Tony Gibson was suspended for a lug nut violation following the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Taking the reins on the No. 41 team was engineer Johnny Klausmeier, who stepped up to the plate at Bristol Motor Speedway in April, with Gibson stuck in his motorhome with kidney stones.

“His voice was way more calming than Gibson,” Busch said. “When you have an engineer calculating your fuel, I mean, it’s a calculator. I know Gibson can do it just the same, but when you have a new guy or somebody different and you’re not at your full strength, there’s something that happens to everybody on the team. Everybody pulls harder. Everybody digs in a little bit deeper, and not having Tony Gibson here today, I know everybody gave that much more, and this is a win for Gibson.”

The calm within Busch is something rather new, making this year unique for the No. 41 team.

Heading into Pocono Raceway, Busch led NASCAR’s premier division with 11 top 10s in 13 races. Evidently, that amount has increased to 12 top 10s in 14 events. As one of NASCAR’s most consistent drivers this season, he is the only competitor to finish on the lead lap in every race this year, running every one of the 4,464 laps.

Busch’s victory is the 28th of his Sprint Cup Series career. Since joining SHR, he now has visited Victory Lane four times, and is currently on pace to excel his career high of 21 top 10s in a season (2004, 2009 and 2015).

With 28 visits to Victory Lane, Busch is tied with Rex White for 25th on the all-time wins list. Next up on the list? 1999 Cup Series champion Dale Jarrett’s mark of 32 victories, with which Harvick is currently tied.

“It’s something that you don’t think about, but it’s nice to have the acknowledgment to be in an elite group,” Busch said. “But it takes an elite team and an effort that you have to have as a driver in this day and age to be in position to win, and so far this year on the Haas Automation Monster Energy Chevy team, we’ve been on one side of the yellow or one side of the restart at the end of a bunch of races, and it sits there and it wears on you a little bit, but then you’ve got to focus.

“Focus, focus, focus, and allow the races to unfold. The more often that you’re in position to win, the more chances at winning you’re going to have, and throughout my career, I’ve always enjoy racing here at Pocono. It’s a fun racetrack. It’s a different racetrack. It has road course rhythm. It has oval characteristics, but then it challenges engine builds. It challenges new setups because we race here in June and then we come back here quickly at the end of July, and then we don’t come back again for another 10 months, and technology changes so quickly.”

]]>Thinkin’ Out Loud: A Monstrous Matt Kenseth Comebackhttps://frontstretch.com/2016/05/16/thinkin-out-loud-the-monster-awakens-from-years-of-slumber-while-kenseth-awakens-from-early-season-doldrums/
https://frontstretch.com/2016/05/16/thinkin-out-loud-the-monster-awakens-from-years-of-slumber-while-kenseth-awakens-from-early-season-doldrums/#commentsMon, 16 May 2016 05:31:31 +0000https://frontstretch.com/?p=116565Who’s in the headline – The 2016 season has been anything but stellar for Matt Kenseth. After a near miss at Daytona he’s only managed one top 5 finish before Sunday, and that as a fourth last weekend at Kansas. Sunday Kenseth was in the mix but didn’t look like he’d be in contention for …

]]>Who’s in the headline – The 2016 season has been anything but stellar for Matt Kenseth. After a near miss at Daytona he’s only managed one top 5 finish before Sunday, and that as a fourth last weekend at Kansas. Sunday Kenseth was in the mix but didn’t look like he’d be in contention for the win until the penultimate restart. Jimmie Johnson had trouble on that restart and took out a number of race cars including several who were contending for the win. Kenseth was able to grab the lead thanks to Johnson’s trouble and held off all comers over the final 47 laps to claim his first win of the season.

What happened – Kevin Harvick led the first 42 laps from the pole before Carl Edwards beat him off of pit lane during the competition caution. Harvick regained the lead and dominated the race until an accident involving Matt DiBenedetto occurred on the backstretch. Another poor pit stop dropped Harvick behind the front row for the restart and his day never looked as promising again. Martin Truex, Jr., Brad Keselowski, Edwards and especially Kyle Larson all took turns at the point with runs that looked like they had the potential to win the race. In typical Johnson fashion at Dover, the No. 48 did not lead until a pit call put him in front for the restart on lap 354. Johnson had a transmission issue that resulted in an accordion wreck on the front straight, damaging no fewer than 18 race cars and bringing out a red flag. On the restart after the red Kenseth held onto the lead and withstood a furious charge from Larson and Chase Elliott over the final 35 laps.

Why you should care – Whether you watch Cup races for the wrecks or not, there is no question that the “Monster Mile” has been toothless for several years. The track was notorious for cars spinning on their own as drivers were right on the edge throughout races. Resulting incidents frequently gathered other cars and saw heaping piles of smoldering sheet metal gathered against the inside wall. While there weren’t several multi-car wrecks, the “Big One” was a classic Dover melee. The new aero package seemed to make the cars more difficult to drive and also opened the door for racing from the top to the bottom of the track. The new package still needs work but Sunday was proof again that things are heading in the right direction.

What your friends are talking about – The battle over Kerry Earnhardt‘s right to use his birth name continues with Teresa Earnhardt’s lawyers issuing a statement this week. A portion of the statement is quite telling: “The naming of any project called ‘Earnhardt Collection’ causes confusion as being associated with Dale Earnhardt, as the Dale Earnhardt brands and marks are so diverse across multiple industries and philanthropic causes. … [And it] could be used to exclude Dale Earnhardt Inc., the designated steward of Dale’s legacy, from the same use,” The ‘exclude Dale Earnhardt Inc.’ portion tells everything you need to know. It is all about money that Dale Earnhardt’s widow is losing out on. Interestingly, she has not made any such claims toward Earnhardt Outdoors, which is a venture by Kerry, Dale and Kelley Earnhardt. Could it be that she doesn’t want to go up against someone with the net worth of Dale Jr.?

Adam Stevens, crew chief for Kyle Busch, was suspended for a race after a violation of the latest version of the lug nut rule was discovered after the race in Kansas last weekend. The front tire changer, Josh Leslie, was also suspended through May 18th. NASCAR has not provided details of the violation but rumors are flying through the garage. A prominent speculation is that Joe Gibbs Racing changed one of the studs on the wheel to a smooth stud instead of threaded. The lug nut was glued to the wheel but not secured to the stud due to the lack of threads. If true, it is an example of thinking in the gray area of the rules that is so desperately lacking in today’s NASCAR. One would think that NASCAR would have issued a technical bulletin to clarify the rule if this were the violation so it very well may have been something different that resulted in the violation.

NASCAR hasn’t made an official announcement but, as Tony Gibson alluded to in this week’s Tech Talk, the rumor in the garage is that there will be aerodynamic changes to the cars for the All-Star race. The last two years NASCAR has talked about using the All-Star race as a test run for aero changes but scrapped the idea at the last minute. The word is a change designed to reduce side force is on the drawing board. We’ll see if they go through with it next weekend.

Michael Waltrip Racing has been out of business for six months but they still have some unfinished business. A former tire changer for the organization, Brandon Hopkins, is suing the company for blacklisting him after he took a leave of absence. Hopkins was hit by a car on pit lane and required shoulder surgery. His suit claims MWR dismissed him and falsely accused him of stealing a pit gun. The accusation led to Hopkins’ loss of an unpaid internship with another Cup team and a paid position with a Truck team. MWR sought to have the suit thrown out but a judge in Mecklenburg County refused to do so this week.

Silly Season is ramping up early this year, partly due to the switch of Stewart Haas Racing to Ford. Ryan Newman is in the final year of his contract with Richard Childress Racing. Ty Dillon appears to be ready to make the move to Cup and, to this point in time, RCR has not been able to secure sponsorship for a fourth team. At the same time, despite the continued assurances that he is sticking with SHR, long time Chevrolet driver Harvick is rumored to be jumping ship to another Chevy organization. The latest rumor has Kasey Kahne shifting over to the HScott Motorsports entry currently piloted by Clint Bowyer. Harvick would move to Hendrick Motorsports to take the wheel of the No. 5. It would seem like an odd choice to leave a team that won the title in 2014 and was knocking on the door last season to go to the supposed test car for Hendrick. Then again, nobody knows how much money Harvick receives from Chevrolet and they might be trying hard to entice the most recent title winner for the bowtie brand to stay in the fold.

Darlington paint schemes continue to be unveiled and one of the latest is a homage to Smokey Yunick by the No. 13 team of Casey Mears. The black and gold scheme will bring attention to the team and hopefully will generate more buzz around the travesty that is Yunick’s exclusion from the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Who is mad – Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was confident at the start of the race running at the front of the pack. He slipped back to the back half of the top 10 and eventually was back toward 15th when the huge wrecked happened. Earnhardt carved his way through the wreck and looked to be clear when Mears car shot up the track and clipped Earnhardt’s. The end result was a 32nd place finish.

Edwards was racing for a million dollars from his sponsor Stanley if he could win the race. Edwards ran in the top 5 for much of the race and was making a run back toward the lead on the restart after the huge wreck when his car got out of shape and Larson made contact with his left rear. Edwards slid to the inside wall on the back straight and made huge contact. A 28th place finish was a significant disappointment based on the speed he had in his car.

Joey Logano was clawing his way to the front of the pack over the entire day. He was in the top 5 and looking to take a shot at the win when the huge wreck happened on the front straight. Logano was caught up in and and ended the race in 28th place nine laps down. After so much success in 2016, the lack of a win this season, and wrecks the last two weekends has to be working on his psyche.

Who is happy – While Larson might be disappointed due to his failure to get by Kenseth in the late race laps, he has to be encouraged by his success this weekend. Larson has four finishes of 34th or worse this season and Sunday was only his second top 5 of the year. Larson is 87 races into his career and most everyone thought he’d be in Victory Lane by now. It is yet to be seen if it will translate into greater success coming down the road but he has to be grinning after this race.

Kahne has been the subject of rumors throughout the garage this week about where his future will take him. Whether he’ll admit it or not, he has to hear them. His results this season have been nearly as poor as Larson’s. Kahne has two top 5s after Sunday and three finishes of 23rd or worse. With one win since 2013, his boss has to be putting some pressure on for him to perform. This is a small step in the right direction.

It was mentioned a couple of weeks ago. Elliott continues to set career best finishes and Sunday was his latest. Elliott’s first top 3 of his Cup career saw the Rookie of the Year candidate disappointed because he thought he had a shot to win. Elliott is continuing to show speed in his freshman year and there are few who believe he won’t score a win before the end of the season.

When the checkered flag flew:

Matt Kenseth scored his 37th victory in his 590th career start in the Cup series.

This is Kenseth’s third triumph at the concrete mile in Dover, Delaware.

The win is Kenseth’s first of the season and makes him the seventh different race winner of the season in the 12th race of the year.

Kenseth is tied for 19th on the All-Time win list with Kyle Busch and Bobby Isaac.

Kyle Larson crossed the line in the second position. This was Larson’s best career finish at Dover International Speedway.

Larson’s runner-up run was his first top 2 of the season.

This was the fourth time in his career that Larson has come home in second. That ties him for 93rd on the All-Time list of second place finishers.

Chase Elliott rounded out the podium at Dover.

Elliott’s first top 3 run ties him with 95 other drivers for 238th on the All-Time list with one top 3 finish each.

This was his first top 3 of the year and his career.

Elliott was crowned the Rookie of the Race thanks to his third place run.

Currently locked into the Chase thanks to multiple wins, and assuming they attempt to run the remaining races before Richmond, are Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski. Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Kenseth will be locked in assuming there are fewer than 10 winners in the next 14 races. The remaining drivers who would make the Chase based on points and their point position:

Kurt Busch

Chase Elliott

Joey Logano

Martin Truex Jr.

Austin Dillon

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Jamie McMurray

Ryan Blaney

Kasey Kahne

What is in the cooler – This race had everything but someone crossing the finish line upside down and on fire. A dominant car that faded, multiple on-track passes for the lead, racing grooves from the bottom to the top and a stellar battle for the lead at the end. If you came away from Dover wanting more then it might be time for you to look for another sport to follow. As a result we’re giving six ice cold Double D Double IPAs from Fordham and Dominion Brewing Company.

Where do you point your DVR for next week – The next race on the Cup schedule is all about the win. At least that is what they tell us. The All-Star race, with all of its gimmicks, is on FS1 next Saturday night May 21st at 7:00 PM. It can also be heard on local MRN affiliates and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.

]]>https://frontstretch.com/2016/05/16/thinkin-out-loud-the-monster-awakens-from-years-of-slumber-while-kenseth-awakens-from-early-season-doldrums/feed/26NASCAR Mailbox: Gauging Tony Stewart’s Chase Chanceshttps://frontstretch.com/2016/05/11/nascar-mailbox-gauging-tony-stewarts-chase-chances/
Wed, 11 May 2016 05:53:11 +0000https://frontstretch.com/?p=116086Another week and another win for Joe Gibbs Racing. It’s more clear than ever that JGR has become the elite team in NASCAR in 2016. Every week we go to the racetrack and it seems as though a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota is the class of the field. At Kansas, it was Martin Truex Jr.’s …

]]>Another week and another win for Joe Gibbs Racing. It’s more clear than ever that JGR has become the elite team in NASCAR in 2016. Every week we go to the racetrack and it seems as though a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota is the class of the field. At Kansas, it was Martin Truex Jr.’s Furniture Row Racing team, which has a major alliance with the organization. Truex’s car led 171 laps and completely dominated the event until a loose wheel forced Truex to pit under green late in the going. He finished a disappointing 14th.

That didn’t matter for Joe Gibbs Racing though, who had two drivers right behind Truex waiting for a mishap. Kyle Busch, who ended up ended up being the eventually winner and Matt Kenseth who ran second for most of the day only to finish fourth. You know things are going well for your team when one of the cars you are affiliated with can have a problem and someone from your team still wins the race. Yeah, life is good for Joe Gibbs Racing right now and everyone else is playing catch-up. Now let’s answer some questions.

Tony Stewart has been decent in his first few races back. He hasn’t shown the speed to win, but will he be able to get into Victory Lane and make the Chase? – Joe F. Daytona Beach, Fla.

It’s a great question but I think at the end of the regular season, Stewart will be on the outside looking in. It was a remarkable thing what Kyle Busch did last season, however, Busch came back to a team that was on top of their game. Toyota Racing Development (TRD) had found something in their engine department as soon as Busch came back and the cars started to perform across the board.

Stewart is coming back to a good race team but one (as I stated earlier) that is clearly behind the JGR Toyotas. Not only that, but with this new lower-downforce rules package, everyone else in the field has eight more races under their belts than Stewart does. While Stewart may be one of the top talents in the garage area, he’s human. Any way you slice it, he’s behind.

There are going to be some really important tracks coming up for Stewart. Both road course races in addition to Pocono and Indianapolis, two tracks with similar setups and driving styles that could bode well for Stewart. He’s done well at both tracks recently and you know in his final race at Indianapolis, Stewart will want to win. He’ll be a factor in both events but I don’t think the No. 14 team is ready to dominate races and win just yet. Had the season started perfectly for him, maybe it would have been a different story.

I believe we will see a better year from Stewart in 2016. I think we’ll see him finish well above the 30th-place points finish that would lock him into the Chase with a win … but he won’t win to get into the Chase.

Stewart has had some good runs since returning to the driver’s seat after an offseason injury. Will they be good enough for him to make the Chase? (Photo: Mike Neff)

Romain Grosjean is rumored to possibly compete in NASCAR as soon as this year. If he does it, how would he do? Would it be wise for Stewart-Haas Racing to put him behind the wheel in a Cup car without experience in the lower divisions? – Megan R. Chicago

Like any open wheel driver with very little experience in stock cars, I think Grosjean will struggle in his first endeavor into NASCAR. We’ve seen a few open wheel drivers come to NASCAR with very little experience and fizzle out due to lack of preparation and lack of performance.

The best of the bunch, aside from Tony Stewart, was Juan Pablo Montoya. Montoya’s deal is going to be different than Grosjean’s because he’ll still be running Formula 1, while trying to run NASCAR on the side. I’m a believer that you have to commit to one or the other to be successful. If you’re floating between each medium, it’s hard to be successful.

It sounds like Stewart Haas only wants to put him in a car on a road course, which would make more sense because that’s what Grosjean is used to doing. I think in the right situation, he could compete on a road course track, but it would still take time for him to get his feet wet. Stock cars are heavier than what he’s used to.

Even Max Papis, who ran in stock cars previously had a tough time running road courses in NASCAR. He finished eighth at Watkins Glen in 2009 and after the race Papis admitted to his arms being tired towards the end of the event. Will it be the same situation for Grosjean? It’s hard to say exactly.

You also have to wonder how competitive the car will be for Grosjean. Stewart Haas Racing has a four-car operation. Adding a fifth car is an option for a rookie driver, but very rarely are one-race deals competitive. It takes a while for a team to mesh, especially against teams that have been running all year together.

That would be the most competitive option, though. Other options may include the No. 46 car with HScott Motorsports, but I’m not sure that would work because Annett has a contract to run the entire season. Either way, that team hasn’t been competitive in 2016 and that wouldn’t be good for a driver making his NASCAR debut.

All in all, I think Grosjean will struggle. It will be fun to see someone come from a different form of motorsports to NASCAR and try to compete. Grosjean wouldn’t be the first nor the last, but it should be fun to watch nonetheless if it winds up happening.

]]>Stewart-Haas Racing Previews Kevin Harvick’s Throwback Paint Scheme for Darlingtonhttps://frontstretch.com/2016/04/14/stewart-haas-racing-previews-kevin-harvicks-throwback-paint-scheme-for-darlington/
https://frontstretch.com/2016/04/14/stewart-haas-racing-previews-kevin-harvicks-throwback-paint-scheme-for-darlington/#commentsFri, 15 Apr 2016 02:59:44 +0000https://frontstretch.com/?p=114545With Labor Day weekend just five months away, throwback schemes for NASCAR’s return to Darlington Raceway are beginning to flood in. In Kevin Harvick‘s case, the sponsor will honor a former driver with a familiar sponsor. On Thursday, Stewart-Haas Racing displayed the paint scheme that Harvick will be racing during the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Labor …

]]>With Labor Day weekend just five months away, throwback schemes for NASCAR’s return to Darlington Raceway are beginning to flood in. In Kevin Harvick‘s case, the sponsor will honor a former driver with a familiar sponsor.

On Thursday, Stewart-Haas Racing displayed the paint scheme that Harvick will be racing during the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Labor Day weekend.

A tradition started last year, this year’s throwback era is between the decade of 1975-1984. The No. 4 car will pay homage to three-time Sprint Cup champion and NASCAR Hall of Fame Cale Yarborough. This particular paint job made it’s debut during the 1979 Daytona 500, a race that will always go down in the history books for getting NASCAR on the map.

Yarborough was sponsored by Busch Beer in 1979 and 1980. In those two years the Hall of Famer won 10 races, recorded 38 top-five finishes and 44 top 10s in 62 races. Over the span of his 31-year career, he wound up in Victory Lane five times following the Southern 500.

Harvick’s Busch Chevrolet was added to the many throwback paint schemes that were displayed this week. Three of the Stewart-Haas Racing cars have been debuted as Tony Stewart’s will at a later date.

]]>https://frontstretch.com/2016/04/14/stewart-haas-racing-previews-kevin-harvicks-throwback-paint-scheme-for-darlington/feed/1Did You Notice? … Tony Stewart Could Easily Still Make The Chasehttps://frontstretch.com/2016/03/30/did-you-notice-tony-stewart-could-easily-still-make-chase/
https://frontstretch.com/2016/03/30/did-you-notice-tony-stewart-could-easily-still-make-chase/#commentsWed, 30 Mar 2016 08:21:32 +0000https://frontstretch.com/?p=113547Did You Notice? … Five races into the 2016 season the door is still wide open for Tony Stewart to make the Chase? Certainly, there’s a lot that would have to happen; the three-time Sprint Cup champion isn’t even expected to return to the series until May. The sabbatical leaves him out for about 12 …

]]>Did You Notice? … Five races into the 2016 season the door is still wide open for Tony Stewart to make the Chase? Certainly, there’s a lot that would have to happen; the three-time Sprint Cup champion isn’t even expected to return to the series until May. The sabbatical leaves him out for about 12 races after experiencing a fractured vertebrae during an off-road incident back in January.

Stewart, of course, has not been up to speed for the past several seasons; he finished a distant 28th in points last year after running in all 36 events. One can imagine how dismal those totals would be if you took 12 of his better races away. But before you write Stewart off, consider… it’s his final season on the circuit. The 45-year-old will come back into his No. 14 ride with nothing to lose, an aggressive win-or-bust philosophy and (in theory) top-tier equipment capable of winning races. Teammate Kevin Harvick continues to run circles around the competition in laps led, top-3 finishes and overall speed. Kurt Busch, another Stewart-Haas Racing driver has shown flashes of brilliance and appears to be a title contender. There’s no reason Stewart’s car, which has run in and around the top 10 with substitutes Brian Vickers and Ty Dillon can’t reach the same level of excellence.

So let’s say Stewart comes back, hits on the right combination and steals a win at one of his favorite tracks (Indianapolis is the first one that comes to mind for me). He’d then be in a position to make the Chase as long as he finished inside the top 30 in points. How hard would that be? Not as hard as you’d think and potentially not as hard as it was for Kyle Busch last year. So far this season, through five races the 30th-place point man David Ragan has accumulated just 67 points. That’s slightly better than a 28th-place average finish; 27.8, in fact with a single lap led. If Ragan continues on that pace he’ll be only 147 points ahead of Stewart should he return to the No. 14 car Memorial Day Weekend. 14 races in the regular season would be left to close the gap.

Compare that to Kyle Busch’s deficit, one the No. 18 team easily overcame after their driver missed the first 11 races with well-documented leg injuries. Ironically, back then it was Stewart who was 30th in points and the deficit for Busch to make up was 179. Even with that deeper hole, in just 15 events Busch had outscored 30th in points by 254, won multiple times and found himself comfortably in the field.

With a smaller gap to make up there’s no reason Stewart can’t do the same. If he beats Ragan by only 15 points a race, the gap would be closed and it would happen with an average finish of about 13th. About 10 drivers have achieved that average this season including… wait for it… two of Stewart’s teammates in Busch and Harvick, respectively. So as unlikely as it may seem, a three-time champ in the twilight of his career and battling back from multiple injuries the stats say Stewart can still make summer an interesting comeback story. We’ll have to see if he gets there.

Did You Notice? … Rookies Chase Elliottand Ryan Blaneyare tied for 16th in the Sprint Cup standings? It seems appropriate they’d be neck-and-neck for the final Chase spot if the 2016 season ended today; it’s clear their rookie battle will go down to the wire.

So far, this duo has accumulated one pole, five top-10 results and a respectable average finish of around 19th. Already, that’s more top 10s accumulated than the entire 2013 and 2015 Rookie classes combined. It’s a good sign for the sport as new faces inevitably attract new fans and new enthusiasm to go along with this rules package.

Did You Notice? … Quick hits before we take off…

Nice to see the Sprint Cup field back at 40 this week. With the Ryan Ellisannouncement, putting him in a third car for BK Racing and Premium Motorsports now trotting out a second car I don’t think we’ll be field 39 cars or less for the foreseeable future. The next big step for NASCAR still remains, though; how do you make the jump from the Jay Robinsons filling the field to actual new owners dipping their toes in the sport with fresh money?

Regan Smith, a former Hendrick Motorsports (via JR Motorsports) satellite employee has just as many top-10 finishes as Kasey Kahnewith one-tenth of the funding over at Tommy Baldwin Racing. Certainly, Justin Allgaiercan be used in a pinch for the No. 5 come 2017 if things continue to go this badly with Kahne, but you wonder if Hendrick and the Earnhardts are thinking they should have kept Smith on the roster as a better insurance policy.

One guy I’m watching at Martinsville this weekend? Jamie McMurray. He always runs well there, came close to ruining Jeff Gordon’sdream victory last fall (second) and has quietly put together a solid start to 2016. McMurray has never won at a short track but at some point, considering the middle-tier or better equipment he’s driven all these years, the sheer law of averages has got to win out.

]]>https://frontstretch.com/2016/03/30/did-you-notice-tony-stewart-could-easily-still-make-chase/feed/3Brian Vickers Partners with Janssen to Race at Auto Club Speedwayhttps://frontstretch.com/2016/03/14/brian-vickers-partners-janssen-race-auto-club-speedway/
Mon, 14 Mar 2016 20:19:23 +0000https://frontstretch.com/?p=112781After competing in two of the first four races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, Brian Vickers will return to the No. 14 car at Auto Club Speedway. Vickers, 32, will run the No. 14 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing for the third time this year. After being approved by NASCAR and doctors to run …

]]>After competing in two of the first four races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, Brian Vickers will return to the No. 14 car at Auto Club Speedway.

Vickers, 32, will run the No. 14 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing for the third time this year. After being approved by NASCAR and doctors to run the Sprint Unlimited and Daytona 500, he was named as an interim driver in place of the injured Tony Stewart, along with Ty Dillon.

Joining Vickers at Auto Club Speedway will be Janssen, which owns the blood thinner Xarelto. While he was attempting to fight off reoccurring blood clots, doctors placed him on the medication, including at the end of the 2013 season and early last year.

Janssen was scheduled to sponsor Vickers last year at Auto Club Speedway, but as the weekend approached, his blood clots came back. Brett Moffitt replaced him in Michael Waltrip Racing’s No. 55 car that weekend, staying in the car until David Ragan finished out the season for the team.

Vickers’ paint scheme will feature the blue and yellow colors of legendary golfer Arnold Palmer’s Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation. The two have partnered multiple times, including filming a commercial with actor Kevin Nealon.

It is still unknown how many races Vickers will be in the No. 14 Chevrolet. Dillon is scheduled to be in the car whenever Bass Pro Shops is the primary sponsor. Vickers is expected to pilot the car whenever Mobil 1, Rush Truck Centers and Code 3 Associates is on the car.

Stewart is expected to start his rehabilitation process shortly, according to a team release last year. He was injured in an off-road vehicle accident late in the offseason, suffering a L1 vertebra burst fracture. Stewart had surgery later that week and has since been seen at the track.